Improvement in steam-generators



Prion.

ALFRED GUTHRIE AND CARLILE MASON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

IMPROVEMENT IN sTEAM-eENE'RAToRs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 88,707, dated April 6, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALFRED GU'rHRrE and CARLILE MASON, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved method of transmitting the heat formed in the process of combustion in the ordinary steamgenerator furnaces directly into the water in the boiler instead of passing it by conduction through the plates of metal of which the boiler is composed, and also at the same time transmitting all the gases. formed in such combustion, as well as any undecomposed air passing` through the furnace into the same water, and thereafter using them, mixed with such vapor as may be generated by the heat in propelling the ordinary steam-engines, or for other purposes, thereby obviating all danger of explosion caused by the overheating of the boilerplates, greatly diminishing the amount of boiler-surface usually required in the production of steam, as well as economizing almost entirely the products from the fuel consumed; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full and'exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

.The nature of our invention consists in the construction of an air or steam tight fire-furnace capable of withstanding any pressure required to be used for any purpose, into which the fuel is introduced, and after being properly ignited it is closed up by means of a suitable valve for use; then by means of an airpump or other suitable device atmospheric air is forced in sufficient for combustion, the heat and gases passing over through a pipe into a tank made of strong boiler-iron or other suitable metal, filled from half to three-fourths full of water, the pipe passing down into the water to a suitable depth to insure the absorption of the heat, by which it will be converted into vapor and rise with the gases into the space above the water, ready to be drawn o to the engine, or for other purposes for which it may be desirable to be used.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

We construct our furnaces in any of the known forms, but surrounded by a strong metallic casing, of such form and material as will be able to withstand any desired pressure we may need. Then we construct a separate tank of like material and form for resisting pressure, set at any convenient distance from the furnace, which we fill partially with water, and then by a connecting-pipe from the furnace down into the water in the tank, through which the heat and gases may pass or be forced from the furnace, the air for combustion being forced inside of the furnace underneath the fuel. In some cases, instead of a separate tank set at a distance, we place the furnace and its casing inside of the tank in such manner that the water in the tank may surround the metallic casing of the furnace-it being in contact with it, will prevent its being overheated--rnakin g a very compact arrange ment. The size and dimensions of the tank and the water to be held must be regulated by the required power of the engine, using about two cubic feet for a horse-power of the engine with ample vapor-room to prevent working water.

For more full and complete explanation of its construction, we will referto the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the letters thereon, marked as references.

Fig. l shows the furnace N laid lopen, B showing aV hopper for holding coal. The arrows show the direction of the heat and gases. O O show the firegrates, and K a rocker, to break the clinker and pass the ashes to the ash-pit L; C, the blower-valve for blowing out ashes. D shows a valve for feeding the fire or cleaning. P shows valve for temporary escape of gases in first i gniting the fires, the air being admitted through the blower-valve C, as desired. E shows a check-valve, through which the air is forced into the furnace for the regular combustion. M shows the pipe for the passage of the heat and gases through the check-valve I, and down M into thetank.

Fig. Z-H shows the tank, R, the watera line; F, ordinary blow-oif-pipe valve; G, valve and water-feed pipe; J, ordinary safety-valve; S, steam-pipe to engines.

Fig. 3 shows a furnace surrounded by a tank instead of having them separat-e, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but having the same general arpipe M, for the passage of the heat and gases to the water in H, together with the air-feed pipe E, substantially as set forth and described.

ALFRED GUTHRIE.

rangement of valves and pipes, cutting off the furnace-chamber downa little below the low- Water line, as shown at T, for the purpose of keeping the metal protected by water.

What We claim as our invention, and desire OARLILE MASON. to secure by Letters Patent, is- Witnesses:

The arrangement of the furnace N, in conl J. D. POMROY,

nection with the tank H and its connecting- W. GUTHRIE. 

